Beamish Call on Rivals to Freeze Prices

25th Sep 2008

Beamish Call on Rivals to Freeze Prices
Finbarr Barry

Leading by example Cork brewery Beamish & Crawford have announced a price freeze on all their products despite recent hikes by Dublin rivals. Guinness and Murphy's have recently raised the price of their pints but their Cork competition is refusing to give in to economic pressure despite a sharp rise is production costs. Beamish are now calling on other breweries to reverse their latest price hikes.

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"Our competitors are citing increased costs in energy, labour and raw materials as their reason for increasing the price of their products," said Alf Smiddy, Managing Director of Beamish & Crawford, "we too are experiencing these increases; however we do not accept that a second price increase in one year can be justified.

We think it's wrong to do so and we call on our competitors to reconsider their decision. The big challenge facing business in Ireland is that it needs to take serious steps to restore competitiveness."

Rather than take the lie down and surrender attitude of many outside Cork, Smiddy believes it is time for Cork to show the rest of the country the way forward. As more people choose to booze at home a further price increase, especially in Cork, would drive more Corkonians from the pubs.

"Increasing prices will only drive consumers from the pub", Smiddy continues, "No increase on Beamish Stout means that stout drinkers can now enjoy a pint of stout at a price of up to 60c less per pint than that of competing stouts, the biggest price differential ever!"

It's not only the Cork stout that will hold the fort against the recent economic hysteria as all beers brewed at the South Main Street brewery will follow the Beamish line of no price increase. That means drinkers of Foster's, Miller Genuine Draft, Carling, Kronenbourg 1664, San Miguel and Beamish Red Irish Ale as well as Beamish stout will not pay extra for their gat.

Despite Cork's sole resistance against the price increases, Dublin vintners have been queuing up to heap praise on Smiddy's brewery while their own local brewery at James' Gate jump on the price hike bandwagon.

Alf Smiddy: other breweries should freeze their prices too.

Padraig Cribben, of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland said, "Our, members, the publicans throughout the country, welcome Beamish & Crawford's decision and commend them on their support of our sector. We have already expressed our disappointment with other beer suppliers' decision to impose a second price rise in 2008. Beamish & Crawford's stance demonstrates real understanding of the current plight of our sector and is one worthy of support."

Donal O'Keeffe, of the Licensed Vintners' Association said "Dublin publicans welcome Beamish & Crawford's decision, particularly against the background of the ongoing decline in draught beer sales. "

Despite his sensible economic policies Smiddy has ruled himself out as a late entry to the American Presidential race as Obama and McCain both appear to be dithering in the face of their country's financial meltdown. Indeed the Cork Dream is often said to be very similar to the much touted American Dream - just with more stout.

Rumours in Washington suggested that the Cork man was being heavily lobbied by U.S. Treasury officials to run for office as stateside think-ins in both Republican and Democrat camps drew a blank.

Corcaigh Abú.